title: Increased plasma HDL-cholesterol and apo A-1 in sedentary middle-aged men after physical conditioning.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol and coronary heart disease risk. In the present study we investigated prospectively the effect of a moderate physical conditioning programme on plasma lipids and lipoproteins, especially HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I), the major apoprotein of HDL. Healthy, sedentary, middle-aged men were randomly selected and assigned either to a training group (n = 24, age 40 +/- 3.4, mean +/- SD) or to a control group (n = 13, age 39 +/- 5.0). Training consisted of various indoor and outdoor sports activities 45 min/day, 3 times/week for 12 weeks at an intensity of approximately 80% of measured maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max). The trained subjects were studied at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The training increased VO2 max by 12% (P less than 0.01). Increases were observed in both apo A-I (10%, P less than 0.02) and HDL-cholesterol (8%, P less than 0.02) after training, with significant increases already after 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. Furthermore, decreases in total plasma cholesterol (5%, P less than 0.004) and plasma triglycerides (26%, P less than 0.003) were found without changes in body weight, body composition, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption or the percentage composition of dietary intake. Fasting serum-insulin concentrations decreased significantly during training. No changes were noted in the control group. The present study demonstrates prospectively that moderate physical training can increase HDL.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D002784:Cholesterol; D011188:Potassium